Transition Blues: The Experience of Female Collegiate Student-Athletes

Ten female student-athletes in their third or fourth year of eligibility at an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institution participated in an in-depth, semi-structured interview in order to gain a deeper understanding their transitioning experience.  A better understanding of those experiences will enable administrators, coaches, support staff, and other stakeholders to make more informed decisions regarding this population to assist them in their transition into collegiate athletics and out of collegiate athletics. The primary themes emerged from the interviews involving transition included their own transition in and out collegiate sport as well as the transition of their coaches and teammates. The findings provide a foundation to increase awareness of the issues female student-athletes face out of the realm of sport and to better assist them in the collegiate experience.

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